Folks out in the Oregon territory rarely had big town wide gathering unless there was a powerful good reason. Helping raise a neighbor's barn would top the list of reasons even with it being serious work and precious time away from fields and stock. It was expected good neighbors would be there to help and could expect the same in kind. Certainly, that is a respectable reason for a party. Even the serious work of raising the barn, with so many pitching in, well, that'd be almost as easy as the dancing. Folks expected they would be worn out and happy at the end of the day either way.
Sarah had helped her Pa and Ma load her three younger brothers, along with mountains of food and Pa's tools, into the family wagon right after breakfast. The boys had raced through the few chores needed around the farm like they were on fire. A whole day to be spent with friends and no more chores, running wild as adults socialized, had the children frantic with excitement. Sarah understood, feeling like only moments ago it was her in school house skirts and ribbons reveling in a summer day of freedom and picnics. She did her best to keep the boys well behaved on the ride but felt it was really just luck they didn't fall out of the wagon with all the excitement.
The Mitchell's farm was only about two miles outside of the town but the Kines wanted to arrive early like the other nearby town folk. Appearances were ever important. Sarah's brothers just about exploded out of the wagon before it had fully stilled. Racing off to find the other young boys, their mother admonished after them to behave and watch out for Will, the littlest. Sarah herself was barely out of the wagon before she heard an excited voice, "Sarah! You're the first one here!" Her dear friend Alice immediately enveloped Sarah into a big warm hug. The pretty little blonde was universally thought of as the sweetest girl anyone could find in the territory. Sarah had once teased her that she was born without a temper. Alice, in her happy way, said that she'd just never found anything worth being cross over for very long.
"Says the one's here first to greet me!" Sarah answered Alice warmly.
With a giggle and bright smile, Alice answered, "Oh you know what Daddy says! Takes too much time saying hello to everyone at once, might as well get there first!" It was an oft-repeated joke of Alice's father, the town's well-respected preacher, but the likely truth behind his family's reputation for punctuality. Right behind Alice was Ruth. The beautiful blond was quick to claim her hug hello from Sarah.
"Oh Sarah, the dress! It's just absolutely darling! It came out just right." Ruth gushed. Sarah could not help the shy smile and blush rolling over her cheeks. Ruth, ever the empathic kind friend, once again seemed to know exactly what her friend needed to hear.
Sarah holding Ruth's hand immediately answered, "I should be thanking you! You were right about the yellow in the first place. " Gripping the skirt, Sarah lifted it just a bit to show off the fullness as she continued, "I was so worried that it'd be …."
"Sarah, don't dawdle there." Mrs. Kine said steamrolling into the conversation. "Take these things over to Mrs. Ellcott at the tables over there. Hello there, girls. You all look lovely today. "
"Good Morning Mrs. Kine", Alice and Ruth answered in chorus. They took the basket and plates Mrs Kine carefully doled out. Matthew Hillman and two more of local fellas wandered by as the wagon emptied, tipping their hats to punctuate their flirtatious good mornings to all three of the girls. Arms full of food and cakes, the girls headed over to the large tables spread and ready for the picnic to come. Placing their load down carefully amidst the growing feast, Sarah took up the conversation her mother had interrupted. "Ruth, I'm so glad to see you. I thought you weren't going to make it? What with your Uncle Jeb feeling poorly and all, you'd said you were staying home."
Ruth gave a small shake of her soft curls replied, "I had given up on coming. But yesterday he went and asked Parson Ellcott if his family would escort me." Sarah immediately understood as young unmarried ladies simply do not go off without a proper chaperon to dances, even if just about the whole town was there. "I was worried to leave him on his own for the day. He's been so stiff lately. But he insisted he wouldn't have me missing the dancing and party just to sit around with his cranky 'ol coot of a self." There was just a tiniest touch of sadness in her voice that seemed to hint, maybe, that is what she would have preferred.
Ruth had come to town a lanky silent girl of ten years old, almost six months after losing her parents and siblings in a house fire. Her disrespectable and long widowed Uncle Jeb had driven back from meeting the train in Eugene one summer with her in tow. Absolutely scandalized the town's ladies that the gruff old man who'd been running the debauched tavern was now the sole guardian of this sad little girl child. Jeb had gone and proved them wrong, upending his tavern, home and life to best raise Ruth. The only family the two of them had in the world, Ruth was the apple of her Uncle's eye and he, her dear old coot. Sarah had heard her mother whispering to other ladies at church that it was good thing Ruth was such a biddable and gentle soul. Jeb would be letting her get away with any and all kinds of misbehavior otherwise.
"Well, I'm glad you're here. I must say we're all lucky your Uncle spoils you rotten and made sure you'd have fun today!" Sarah gently teased Ruth.
"Me too! Nothing better than having all of us together!" echoed Alice.
With a bright smile and her chin held high, Ruth said, "He does not spoil me! And if he did, it'd only be just the littlest bit!" After the laughter of the three girls settled, Ruth continued, "Really! But Sarah," her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, "You and Carl had best not let Miles pester me again. I know Carl's your sweetheart but that brother of his, looks at me like I'm some prized steer. He's so terrible coarse! I'm not budging. He can court anyone he likes, but it won't be me!"
Sarah, feeling that odd little uncomfortable stir down in her belly again, did her best to answer lightly. "I'll do my best, Ruth. Can't speak for Carl as we've no understanding." Her friend's surprised expression had Sarah trying to quickly smooth everything over. "Carl hasn't asked me anything formal, you know."
"But Daddy was saying he heard you two were planning for a date before the year ends!" Alice whispered back, her face in a sweet little frown.
Ruth, one hand up over her mouth, rushed her words in over Alice's. "I'm sorry Sarah, I'd never have asked if I… just there was talk Carl was speaking to your father so I thought…"
Sarah quick as lightening tried to again reassure her friends, even as her stomach was bottoming out. With a wide smile, just a hair too hard to be honest, "Oh no, no. Don't either of you fret! I am not at all upset or worried. Just, I haven't come to any understanding with him. Least not yet. Who knows, I'm not even sure I'm settled on him." she added archly. So much gossip about a choice she hasn't made yet had Sarah feeling the twitch of nerves trembling about her chest and arms.
"Oh well, then, we'll still be our band of merry girls today, won't we? Just dance with whatever handsome man we might find! " Alice said brightly. Always looking at the best in people and situations, Alice's relentless enthusiasm was a balm to Sarah's nerves. "You might even met someone who charms you into running off to be married! Just like Milly! Would that be romantic?" Alice clapped her hands together beaming a smile at her friends at just the idea of such a grand romantic adventure.
Ruth and Sarah laughed along with Alice and agreed. At least, Sarah did her best to make a show of it. Too many corn huskings, dances and church socials had past lately in the same fashion for Sarah to believe there would be much difference in the conversation or company. Still the warm sunshine dripping down around the trees and the chatter of her friends had Sarah chiding herself to stop fussing. It wouldn't do to waste a good time worrying over Carl and if he had a place in her future.
Liza, bubbling with excitement and hugs for all her friends, was the next to arrive. Last were Dorcas and Martha with their families, rolling in like a matched set. Sarah drifted along with the happy chatter of her friends as they caught up on the plans and suitors expected that the day. Years of friendship had the conversations moving so quickly enough anyone walking by would have thought it in code. The party around them was off to a fair start even with folk still arriving. As the group was almost all the unattached respectable females in the town, the girls were again finding themselves the center of attention.
Sarah felt she couldn't turn around without someone else tipping their hat and offering their arm. At least until Carl had shown up and, with a proprietary air, claimed her full attention. As the gentlemen secured drinks, Martha, always proper but armed with a quick wit, whispered from behind Sarah, "I feel like I'm the only flower for a whole hive of bees today".
Dorcas answered in her soft drawl, "Wouldn't mind so much if it wasn't all the same bees!" Sarah couldn't stifle the laugh that followed. Dorcas, a singularly statuesque beauty, was not shy about being particular on what she wanted from a husband. Just about every eligible man in town had asked to walk her home from church but not a one had caught her attention. Dorcas not making a definitive choice on a suitor had disastrous result of the boys becoming absolute pests as of late. Either falling all over themselves like she was the last piece of cake or condescendingly pointing out how manly they were; as if Dorcas was just too dense to realize what a prize they were. Sarah suspected that a feller might only need to recognize that Dorcas was as clever as she was beautiful and Dorcas would be dragging him before the preacher so fast his feet wouldn't touch the ground. It be mighty convenient if such smart feller could also manage to fine looking and tall enough that she would have to actually look up for once.
Sarah watched as her two friend giggled away at their own wit with a gentle smile. She turned her face up into the sunlight dappling down around them, just to soak it in. It warmed her skin the same way the friendships of these few girls did for Sarah's heart. Looking around at her friend together, Sarah wished they all stayed this close the rest of their lives. The absence of Milly, the first friend to marry and move away, had given Sarah a glimpse at a future that seemed much lonelier.
"Wouldn't it just be perfect if Milly was here?" She asked aloud to everyone and no one in particular.
"Oh yes!" Alice answered. "It's so awful lonesome at home without her!"
"And our sewing bees are ever so much more fun with her there!" Liza added.
"We get so much more sewing done too," Dorcas said with a sly smile. Ruth and Sarah were quick with a token protest but Dorcas nipped that in the bud. "You two can say otherwise but you know you wouldn't have been working on your dresses that last minute if Milly was here!"
"Ok then, I surrender." Sarah said with a massive ridiculous sigh. "Milly could get God himself moving faster." The laughter of the girls was interrupted by the gentlemen in their pressed suit jackets, all serious looking greys and browns, coming back to request their first dances. Sarah almost didn't notice Dorcas asking, "Who are they? I haven't seen them before!"
Sarah looked over to see a wagon rolling in. Her eyes opened wide, this wagon was full to the brim with men! Standing tall, swaying along to the rhythm of the wagon as it rolled in, they were a sight. Every single one of them with bright red hair and well-made shirts all colors of the rainbow. The only woman was in a bright red gingham dress but Sarah could not make out her face what with her bright bonnet up.
"Seven of 'em!" came from Ruth.
"And all as tall as church steeples!" Martha gasped. The wagon finally stopped as the woman in front dropped her bonnet.
Alice suddenly and gleefully called out, "It's Milly!" It was like a shot to let loose the rest of them. Sarah was the first to dash off after Alice. She slipped out of Carl's hands in a flash. Excited to see her friend Milly, of course! At least, that is what she would have admitted if asked.